Evaluation of a Research Study

Write an essay of approximately 1,500 words divided into the 6 sections listed below.

USE THE EXACT 6 HEADINGS listed below and place the required information under each heading.

You should write in proper narrative form (good complete sentences, no dot points, use appropriate references).

If you list information under the wrong heading or do not use the 6 headings, you will lose marks.

Important information about essay length and writing style:
The substance of what you’re writing is more important than the length.
Here’s what this means to you: 1,500 words is a guideline (it would not be unusual to have an essay of between 1,300 to 1,700 words). You should primarily concentrate on good written expression and thoroughly addressing the matters listed below. You will lose more marks for repeating information than if the essay falls outside of the length guideline. So, do not repeat information! Instead, make your writing concise and make every word count. If your essay is longer than this guideline, see if you can eliminate words or sentences that don’t add information. If it is shorter, double-check to make sure you’ve addressed all points noted below and have done so thoroughly. If not, address the missing points or address them better. Do not repeat what you’ve already said or make your sentences longer just to make the word count – that will cost you marks.

Important information about citations and references:
Cite the article you are explaining/evaluating under the first heading (Research Question) ONE TIME. Regardless of what you do in other classes, do not repeatedly cite this same article for the remainder of the assessment unless you are providing a direct quotation from the article. When providing information to back up your assertions for the other headings, you should cite other required and suggested readings on the L&G course site where applicable to back up your assertions/explanations. So, your reference section should definitely have a citation for the article you’re evaluating and additional citations from the reading list that are related to your essay.

Important information about terminology (and TurnItIn’s similarity/originality score):
There are specific words and phrases that are standard when discussing research methods. Everyone is expected to know and use the technical words and phrases you learn in this class. You should not alter these words and phrases just to be different than others or obtain a lower TurnItIn similarity-score. For example, all true researchers use the exact term, “dependent variable.” There are very few appropriate alternative terms. “The variable that is dependent” is not an acceptable alternative! Do not use alternative terminology to what your lecturers and tutors use unless you are absolutely certain it is proper (e.g., if the text or article you are evaluating uses an alternative, it is likely acceptable). Note that a major criteria for marking is the use of proper terminology. Although you absolutely need to avoid plagiarism, your mark does not depend on a low TurnItIn similarity score.

Remember to attach the Coversheet and Submit via “TurnItIn” on the L&G site.

Heading 1:
Label this heading: “Research Question”

Information needed under this heading:
What is the research question(s) or problem? What was the theoretical framework (i.e., what is known now?) Briefly explain the most important elements of the theoretical framework and whether it was appropriate for the research question(s) addressed in this study. Did the study mention a “gap in the literature?” Did the study claim to add to this existing knowledge or fill the gap? How? Hint: the information in this section should be an overview/introduction, do not give specifics that you will address under the headings below.

Heading 2:
Label this heading: “Hypotheses and Variables”

Information needed under this heading:
Were hypotheses stated? What were the hypotheses? How were the hypotheses justified in terms of the theoretical framework and prior research? Identify the key independent variable(s) and the dependent variable. How were these variables measured? What type of relationship did the hypotheses assume between the independent and dependent variables (e.g., positive or negative or perhaps just a difference between groups)?
Heading 3:
Label this heading: “Research Design”

Information needed under this heading:
What was the research design (e.g., experimental versus non-experimental)? Explain the benefits and drawbacks in detail. Explain why the author(s) chose this particular research design. Hint: save information about the actual data collection until section 5 – remember, do not repeat information.

Heading 4:
Label this heading: “Sample and Sampling Method”

Information needed under this heading:
What was the sample? What was the sampling method? What was the population of interest? Explain any advantages and disadvantages of the sampling method. Hint: do not mix up the term “population” and “sample.” These are not the same things. You should know the difference. Do not use the phrase, “sample’s population” – this is not proper!

Heading 5:
Label this heading: “Data Collection/Use Strategy”

Information needed under this heading:
Explain the data collection (or use) technique employed by the authors (e.g., survey, use of available data, observation) and how well it was suited to the research question posed and specific hypotheses tested (if any). Remember, do not repeat information from section 3 (or any other section). It is particularly important to remember to cite the other required and suggested readings in this section. Hint: it is highly unlikely that a published journal article would use ill-suited methods. It is more likely that the author(s) chose methods that were reasonable given time and financial constraints. For this reason, it is advisable to discuss what the authors did (and why) and how their methods could hypothetically be even better if they had more time, more money, or more additional resources. Also keep in mind that these data collection/use strategies are not mutually exclusive (e.g., an author can use pre-existing survey data) and that it may be more accurate to describe the data that the author(s) “used” rather than the data they “collected” depending upon whether they actually collected the data themselves. If the author(s) did not collect the data themselves, you should explain how the data was collected by whomever did the collection.

Heading 6:
Label this heading: “References”

Information needed under this heading:
List your references in this section, using APA referencing format. Extensive referencing is not expected. Do not forget to list the research study you are reviewing and the semester readings you have used to support your assertions.

If you are referring to a manuscript cited by another manuscript you should:
1) Best – read the actual original manuscript
2) Acceptable – say, “as cited by…” and then list both the original manuscript and the manuscript citing that one.

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